Emily C. Hill Van Lieu

10:00 PM,
Nov. 12, 2013

Emily Caroline Hill was born June 28, 1968, in Hong Kong, when it was a British Crown Colony. She was adopted by M. Charles and Martha J. Hill in Hong Kong in 1969. Her father was in the U.S. Foreign Service, and during her childhood, she lived at various times in Hong Kong, Massachusetts, Vietnam, Israel, and Washington, D.C., which she considered her primary home. She also reveled in frequent visits to her grandparents in Bridgeton and Ocean City, in southern New Jersey.

While at Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, she helped found and became the coxswain of the school's first varsity crew team, rowing and racing on the Potomac River. She attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia for a year, studying nursing, before transferring to the University of Rochester in upstate New York. While at Rochester, she continued as a coxswain with the crew team, and further studied nursing. It was there that she met and began dating Neil Van Lieu, an optical engineering student, in October of 1989. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, and achieving her registered nurse certification in 1991, she spent much of the summer in Zaire and Kenya, Africa, assisting at a remote missionary medical clinic, where among other duties, she inoculated hundreds of native people against the ravages of goiter. In the fall of 1991, she joined Neil in Boulder, Colorado, and earned her Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse qualification. She worked as a CRRN at Craig Hospital in Englewood, the Mapleton Center for Rehabilitation in Boulder, and at Spalding Rehabilitation at Longmont United Hospital.

Emily and Neil were married while living in Longmont, and they enjoyed travelling together. After their son Christopher was born, the family moved to Grass Valley, California, for Neil's job, where their daughter Laura was born. Emily's life centered upon raising her children, as she contributed to, and participated in all aspects of their lives. In addition, she also volunteered with the Hospice of the Foothills. After the family returned to Fort Collins in 2002, Emily actively volunteered in her kids' schools and the community, and she loved playing and winning competitive tennis. She also earned a first degree black belt in karate. Emily worked in the Poudre School District with children with disabilities, and for almost two years, she was a nurse and executive assistant for Occupational Medicine Consultants in Windsor.

Emily fought a sudden, brief, but valiant struggle with cancer. She loved people and was extraordinarily compassionate towards others. She had an irresistible laugh and an energetic personality. Emily was an extremely good listener, who connected with people, and her dynamic presence was enjoyed by many friends. Emily was smart, hard working, loving, and dedicated to her family. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

Emily is survived by her husband Neil, her son Christopher and daughter Laura, her father Charles Hill and stepmother Norma Thompson of New Haven, Connecticut, and sister Catharine Hill Smith and brother-in-law John Smith of Chatham, Virginia. Emily was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Megan, and by Emily's mother, Martha.

A memorial service celebrating Emily's life will be held Monday, November 11, at 4 p.m. The service, followed by a reception, will take place at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins, at 531 South College Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524.

In lieu of flowers, Emily's family suggests contributions may be made in Emily Hill Van Lieu's memory to MMS Aviation (Missionary Maintenance Services), at 1-888-950-4395, or online at http://www.mmsaviation.org ; please indicate recipient preference for Keith and Karen Dodson. Please visit bohlenderfuneralchapel.com to send the family online condolences.